"Don't Let it Go to Your Head"
By Brand Nubian

The past Saturday I attended the third installment of the VH1 Hip-Hop Honors. Like last year I worked backstage for the rehearsals and taping, escorting artists throughout the venue. This year I had the priviledge to escort the almighty Wu-tang Clan. This escort job is not meant for dudes unless your talent is a chick. Not necessarily true but whatever. I enjoy doing it because you meet all your favorite artists and attend the a show that most likely wouldn't have access to.

First off, mother @#$%&* artists are TOO GASSED!! I am getting sick of it. Serious! I know the hood says stop snitching but its hard to do your job if folks have a superiority complex. I hate them folks. You get respect if you give respect. Give me the opportunity to tell folks I met 50 cent and he was real cool. Secondly BE ON TIME!!! Its hilarious to hear on the walkie talkie Fabolous will not get on stage if Q-Tip and Diddy have not arrived. I personally had difficulty with Rae and Meth the others are cool. Rae was cool the day of taping. I got no tolerence for their BS. So I backed off. Mother @#$%&* you getting honored! not me! I gives a flying @#$%&* if you miss the show. End of the day I will not lose any sleep. I think he liked the attention. Lastly some folks in the staff need to get some @$$ or somthing cause they are too high strung. (excuse me kiddies but the show can be stressful) BTW Ghost was a no show. GZA was mad cool!! Shout to Rae's Brother. Sorry don't know your name. peace Remedy.

Enough of my tirade. I had a good time regardless. met some cool folks. The show was reallly good. I didn't care for the folks that honored the Beastie Boys but Mixmaster Mike's performance was more tame than in rehearsal. Beasties still wrecked it. MC Lyte wrecked it too along with the Kim, Remy and B-R-A-T. The Sound man messed up a few times but the show went well. Russell's tribute fell short. He has done so much I wished they did better. The tribute to Rakim was dope. Rae stepped in for the incarcerated Jadakiss. (keep your head up.) Wu-Tang did there thing. I hope to be there next year.

"Stakes is High"
by De la Soul

Back like I never left. Long time no write. Well, I haven't been busy but got a case of writer's block. I have mad ideas but none completed. Hopefully I can post them soon. I think I'll soon change my name from infinite to Scatterbrain cause my thoughts are infinitely all over the place.

I was listening to the opening skit on the De la Soul's "Stakes is High" LP. It featured responses by a number of artists that remenisced on the first time they heard hip-hop. I vaguely remember the first time it was over 2 decades ago. I know it was the Sugar hill Gang but I can't recall where I hear it. But I do remember the effect of folks in the hood when "Critical Breakdown" by Ultramagnaetic MCs or "My Melody" by Rakim resonnated over the large radios that folks caried over their shoulders a long while prior to the ipod generation.

The truth is the stakes is high!!! The lyrics are so relevant to our present day.
"Yo, it's about love for cars, love for funds
Loving to love mad sex, loving to love guns
Love for opposite, love for fame and wealth
Love for the fact of no longer loving yourself, kid"

So many listeners are making comments that Hip-hop is dead. Yes and no. Some folks want to be challenged with better material. The ability to make the millions is not happening as quickly because the industry is overly saturated with DJs, MCs, VJs, Singers, photographers, producers, CDs, Mixtapes, DVDs, etc. So don't go blaming 50 Cent, Lil' Jon or Jay-Z for f***in up the game. They partially responsible but its time to open doors or part the seas like Moses for the true artists i.e. Lupe Fiasco. I wasn't a fan until I analyzed the lyrcics on Food and Liqour. Whew!! That boy got heat!! Until next time.